Benjamin Franklin letter to Benjamin Vaughan on the honesty of heretics

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by Benjamin Franklin

To Benjamin Vaughan

October 24, 1788.

------ Having now finished my term in the Presidentship, and
resolving to engage no more in public affairs, I hope to be a better
correspondent for the little time I have to live. I am recovering
from a long continued gout, and am diligently employed in writing the
History of my Life, to the doing of which the persuasions contained
in your letter of January 31, 1783, have not a little contributed. I
am now in the year 1756 just before I was sent to England. To
shorten the work, as well as for other reasons, I omit all facts and
transactions that may not have a tendency to benefit the young
reader, by showing him from my example, and my success in emerging
from poverty, and acquiring some degree of wealth, power, and
reputation, the advantages of certain modes of conduct which I
observed, and of avoiding the errors which were prejudicial to me.
If a writer can judge properly of his own work, I fancy on reading
over what is already done, that the book may be found entertaining,
interesting, and useful, more so than I expected when I began it. If
my present state of health continues, I hope to finish it this
winter: when done you shall have a manuscript copy of it, that I may
obtain from your judgment and friendship, such remarks as may
contribute to its improvement.

The violence of our party debates about the new constitution
seems much abated, indeed almost extinct, and we are getting fast
into good order. I kept out of those disputes pretty well, having
wrote only one little piece, which I send you inclosed.

I regret the immense quantity of misery brought upon mankind by
this Turkish war; and I am afraid the King of Sweden may burn his
fingers by attacking Russia. When will princes learn arithmetick
enough to calculate if they want pieces of one another's territory,
how much cheaper it would be to buy them, than to make war for them,
even though they were to give an hundred years purchase? But if
glory cannot be valued, and therefore the wars for it cannot be
subject to arithmetical calculation so as to show their advantage or
disadvantage, at least wars for trade, which have gain for their
object, may be proper subjects for such computation; and a trading
nation as well as a single trader ought to calculate the
probabilities of profit and loss, before engaging in any considerable
adventure. This however nations seldom do, and we have had frequent
instances of their spending more money in wars for acquiring or
securing branches of commerce, that an hundred years' profit or the
full enjoyment of them can compensate.

Remember me affectionately to good Dr. Price and to the honest
heretic Dr. Priestly. I do not call him honest by way of
distinction; for I think all the heretics I have known have been
virtuous men. They have the virtue of fortitude or they would not
venture to own their heresy; and they cannot afford to be deficient
in any of the other virtues, as that would give advantage to their
many enemies; and they have not like orthodox sinners, such a number
of friends to excuse or justify them. Do not, however mistake me.
It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On
the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought upon him the
character of heretic. I am ever, my dear friend, yours sincerely,